Collingborne's Book: illustrated left is an opening from a manuscript in the archives of the College of Arms which consists of a roll of Arms dating from the mid to late fifteenth century. The original roll may have had few names, and in many places these have been supplied in a later hand. Bound into the same volume as this roll is other interesting material, including Basynges' Book, a roll of Arms on vellum of circa 1395. The volume, which has the College reference B22, was given to the College of Arms together with a number of other important manuscripts in 1669 by Thomas Povey of Grays Inn, London, treasurer to James, Duke of York.
January 2017 Newsletter (no. 49)
News
William Shakespeare in College of Arms manuscripts: Dr Heather Wolfe, Curator of Manuscripts at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C., has published the results of her research in the archives of the College of Arms into the Arms granted to John Shakespeare, father of the playwright. The research was conducted with the expert assistance of the College Archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby. It has long been known that the grant was one of the cases cited in a dispute at the College of Arms over the granting of Arms to insufficiently eminent persons. Dr Wolfe's research draws attention to a number of interesting entries relating to this, that have not previously been published, including one which ascribes the Arms of John Shakespeare to 'Shakespeare the Player'. One account of her research can be found here.
Recent Grants of Arms
A very small selection of those recently receiving grants or exemplifications from the Kings of Arms:
COLACICCHI, William Max, of Bringhurst, Leicestershire. Arms and Crest. He is stated to be the son of Paolo Edoardo Colacicchi, otherwise known as Paul Edward Colacicchi, and grandson of Massimiliano Colacicchi late of Rome, Italy, both deceased; and the limitations of the grant were extended to include the other descendants of his late grandfather. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 8/9/2016. College reference: Grants 179/327.
COLLINS, John Grenville, of the City of Westminster. Arms and Crest. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 5/1/2016. College reference: Grants 179/311.
HARRIS, Charles Marion, of Woodbine in the State of Maryland, USA, fourth in line of descent from Betsey Harris, born in England. Honorary Arms, Crest and Badge. In same Patent were granted Honorary Arms for Janet Rose Harris his wife, being fifth in line of descent from William Foster, born 1794 in Bewick, Yorkshire. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 12/10/2016. College reference: Grants 179/349.
LOEWE, Jost Andreas, of the City of Yarra, Victoria, Australia. Arms and Crest. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 10/7/2016. College reference: Grants 179/315.
O'TOOLE, James Peter, of Cwm Dyserth, Denbighshire, DL. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 12/9/2016. College reference: Grants 179/317.
PANIGUIAN, Nil, Lady, of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, JP, wife of Sir Richard Leon Paniguian, knight, CBE, and daughter of Nurettin Erol Okan of Istanbul, Turkey. Arms and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 22/6/2016. College reference: Grants 179/337.
PIDDING, Emma Samantha, Baroness (Pidding), CBE, of Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Arms, Badge and Supporters. Garter King of Arms. 15/7/2016. College reference: Grants 180/13.
RIGDEN, Stephen Robert, of Calcott, Kent. Arms, Crest and Badge. In the same Patent Arms were granted to Christine Holliday Rigden his wife. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 29/9/2016. College reference: Grants 179/304.
SHEPPARD, Rupert Francis, of the City of Oxford. Arms and Crest. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 7/10/2016. College reference: Grants 179/341.
A grant of Arms was made by Letters Patent of Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms dated 14 October 2016 to George STACK, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff. College reference: Grants 179/343. The blazon reads:
Arms (illustrated left): Vert a Pall parted and fretted each piece Argent voided Azure between in chief a Fleur-de-lys Argent in the dexter a Garb and in the sinister a Stag's Head caboshed a Crescent between the attires Or.
TAYLOR, Paul Duncan, of Upper Batley, West Yorkshire, MBE. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 20/10/2016. College reference: Grants 179/345.
THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. Arms, Crest, Badge and Supporters. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 30/8/2016. College reference: Grants 179/307.
A grant of Arms and Badge was made to Dame Ila Dianne THOMPSON of Denham, Buckinghamshire, DBE, by Letters Patent of Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms dated 16 November 2016. College reference: Grants 180/22. The blazon is:
Arms (illustrated right): Per pale barry wavy of four Azure and Argent eight Roundels in orle counterchanged on a Chief Or a Lion passant guardant Gules.
Badge (not illustrated): An Oak Tree eradicated proper fructed Gules in front of the trunk a Circular Saw Blade Sable thereon a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper.
TUNSTALL, Sir Craig, of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, knight. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 5/9/2016. College reference: Grants 179/302.
A grant of Arms, Crest and Badge was made to Timothy WATTS of Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire, DL, by Letters Patent of Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms dated 25 November 2016. College reference: Grants 180/33. The blazon is:
Arms (illustrated left): Azure in fess two Maiden's Heads each facing outwards and in base a Man's Head affronty all couped at the shoulders Argent on a Chief also Argent three Roses Gules barbed and seeded proper.
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Azure Within a Circlet of Rugby Footballs palewise Or a demi Horse Azure holding in the mouth a Slip of Lily of the Valley leaved and flowered proper.
Badge (not illustrated): Between the posts and above the crossbar of a Rugby Goal Argent a Rugby Football palewise Or.
A grant of Arms and Crest was made to Peter Frederick WYLES of Farlington, Hampshire, by Letters Patent of Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms dated 15 September 2016. College reference: Grants 179/331. The blazon reads:
Arms (illustrated right): Or three Bobbins erect in pale Gules between two Flaunches Azure each charged with a Fess wavy Argent thereon an Axe bendwise surmounted by a Maul bendwise sinister Sable.
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Azure A Book fesswise spine affronty Gules garnished Or issuing therefrom a Roundel Argent irradiated Or charged with the Stern of an Eighteenth century Ship affronty proper.
Appearances
Westminster Tournament Roll: this magnificent illuminated roll belonging to the College of Arms dates from the early years of the reign of Henry VIII. It has appeared in two recent television programmes. It was mentioned in Black and British: a Forgotten History, which was broadcast on BBC Two on 9 November 2016, presented by historian David Olusoga. The roll also appeared in the first episode of Six Wives with Lucy Worsley, broadcast on BBC One on 7 December. Peter O'Donoghue, York Herald, appeared.
Order of St John: On 10 November 2016, HRH the Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO, Grand Prior of the Order of St John, invested three new Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Order at Kensington Palace. The Grand Prior then proceeded to install Sir Malcolm Ross, GCVO, OBE, DL, as new Lord Prior of the Order at the Priory Church in Clerkenwell. The new Prelate of the Order and the new Sub-Prior of the Order were also installed. A number of Knights and Dames of the Order were subsequently invested by the Grand Prior. William Hunt, Windsor Herald and Genealogist of the Order, and John Petrie, Rouge Croix Pursuivant, were in attendance.
Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys: at a reception held at the College of Arms on 23 November 2016 a Royal Charter of Incorporation was presented to this respected professional body by William Hunt, Windsor Herald and one of Her Majesty's Lieutenants for the City of London. In the image left, he shows the illuminated Charter to Kate O'Rourke, President of CITMA.
Who Do You Think You Are?: Peter O'Donoghue also appeared in an episode of this genealogical television programme, which traced the ancestry of actor Danny Dyer, and which was broadcast on BBC One on 24 November 2016.
Society of Colonial Wars: Peter O'Donoghue, York Herald, spoke on the subject of Heraldry and the Heralds, at the Winter Court of the Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was held at the Pendennis Club, Louisville, Kentucky on 10 December 2016. He also spoke on 11 December at a meeting of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of North Carolina, held at Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, North Carolina.
Lectures
Heraldry Society: Peter O'Donoghue, York Herald, delivered the John Brooke-Little Lecture to this society on 16 November 2016 at the Society of Antiquaries of London, on the subject of the St George family, a remarkable seventeenth-century dynasty of Officers of Arms.